Early Monday morning, a 27-year-old man was shot in the leg near the Lakota Pointe Townhomes in Liberty Township, sending deputies into the neighborhood as residents woke up to flashing lights and crime scene tape. The shooting happened close to Lakota Junior High and Woodland Elementary, and authorities say the victim is expected to recover. Deputies told reporters the gunman drove off before officers arrived.
According to Local 12, emergency crews were called to the area of Dutchland Parkway and Yankee at about 5:30 a.m. after reports of a dispute in front of a home at the Lakota Pointe complex. The station reported the victim suffered a leg wound and that deputies have not identified a suspect. Local 12 said detectives were working the scene and following leads early Monday.
Neighbors On Edge After Recent Gunfire
The shooting takes place at a tense moment for Liberty Township. Earlier this month, an after-prom party in the township drew multiple shots and rattled residents, who told FOX19 the scene felt “like a war zone.” That chaos pushed township trustees to talk about tighter enforcement of short-term rentals, and neighbors say this latest round of gunfire only deepens their worries about safety on normally quiet streets.
Police Response
Deputies at the scene told WKRC the shooter had already fled and that detectives are still investigating. Authorities have not released a motive or named any suspects, and the case remains active as investigators review footage and interview witnesses. Local officials say they plan to release more information as it becomes available.
Steps From Local Schools
Woodland Elementary is only steps from where the shooting was reported. The Lakota Local School District lists Woodland at 6923 Dutchland Parkway and notes that the district partners with local law enforcement on school safety. There were no reports of students being harmed, but parents and neighbors said the proximity to a school makes the incident especially unsettling. School and township officials had not issued a public statement to reporters as of midmorning.
